Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-01-15


organized to control the seaboard soft
coal trade, is almost fixed fact. The
percentages have been fixed, perhaps
as follows:
Clearlield. ........ .............'..52 ~
Georges Creek. Ck......................
Beech Creek. ............ ................ IL
Norfolk and Western. rn......................l
Chesapeake and Ohio. o.....................lO
Erie. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. D
Only the matter of prices, it is claim
/, remains to be determined.
Taken with the encouraging indica-
tions of a growing revival of trade,
this movement to check rulnous COM
petition and add proper value to our
great product, makes the outlook a
very cheerful one. We may say, in
deed, that the trade of this region has
never before promised so brightly on
the Threshold of q years business than
at this time.
1t is our pleasure, moreover, to add
the belief that our miners will benefit
handsomely from the improved sit
uation. Increased work will GER
tainly follow, and sustained advance
in the price of coal will almost as GER
talnly bring so cents ton for mining.
Now, then, what is our duty in the
premises?
We will state it briefly as we see it;
Work patiently until the companies
can test the integrity of the pool.
This need not be long after it goes
into effect.
But so long as it is passing through
its trying stage its operations should
not be complicated or embarrassed by
"demands' for what is meanwhile not
to be had.
By adopting this suggestion there is
nothing to lose, but possibly Il good
deal to gain.
THE JOURNAL endorses every word
of the appended suggestion from the
Homecoming Rerie,c
The tragic death of young John Schuyler
and the stoppage of the mines for three days
has again brought to mind the fact that there
is q certain amount of folly in such proceed
ings. 1t is an old established custom for the
miners to quit work when q brother work
man loses his life while at work in the mines,
and, as usual, three days idleness ensues.
The men should not be expected to work Oh
the day when some unfortunate brother is
laid away to rest. The second day could be
used by the men in proving that their sym
pathy for the distressed family is practical by
working and contributing to them the entire
earnings of that day. By this means the
company would not be hampered in the
shipment of coal and the much needed as
sistance would be given those in distress In
this connection the company in whose mine
an accident occurs should contribute the
profits on a days shipments to the same
fund.
On arecent similar occasion Hoffman
mine, employing nearly three hundred
men, was stopped three days. All mo-
tive power came to a standstill. The
paralysis thus effected was felt in
many homes of the vicinage, and far
away in Georgetown, Baltimore, New
York, Boston. Nearly one-eighth of a
months earnings were sacrificed to a
sentiment, the expression of which ben
eftted the stricken family not a cent.
The company, with vessels waiting,
perhaps, and other costly Interruptions
of u system wherein the inexorable
exactions of ''time and tide" must be
met, incurred costs and embarrass-
ments of no small account.
Don't stop work en- mosse, therefore,
but keep the machinery from mine to
market going, and, if miners, laborers
and companies want to express SYM
pathy for the bereaved, let them do it
in substantial way.